Compensation and Benefits Managers Salary
Compensation and Benefits Managers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ make a median of $179,730 a year, or about $86.41 an hour. The range runs from $121K at the entry level to $290K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 112.56), so that salary is closer to $159,675 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,910/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $180K get you in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New York-Newark-Jersey City’s Regional Price Parity (112.56). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About compensation and benefits managers
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What this looks like in New York-Newark-Jersey City
New York-Newark-Jersey City sits well above the national pay line for compensation and benefits managers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $149K. Rent runs $2,910/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 13% above the national average (BEA RPP 112.56), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for compensation and benefits managers in metros near New York-Newark-Jersey City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $141K | $141K |
| Rochester | $139K | $144K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $145K | $151K |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $186K | $171K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Entry-level compensation and benefits managers (10th percentile) start around $121K. Mid-career wages sit at $180K. Top earners bring in $290K or more, a $169K spread from bottom to top.
Compensation and Benefits Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $199K | +33% | 460 |
| Connecticut | $198K | +33% | 480 |
| Massachusetts | $184K | +23% | 670 |
| New York | $176K | +18% | 2,260 |
| New Jersey | $168K | +13% | 950 |
| California | $167K | +12% | 2,970 |
| Delaware | $166K | +11% | 50 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 280 |
| Minnesota | $163K | +9% | 360 |
| Georgia | $163K | +9% | 1,010 |
| Oregon | $161K | +8% | 240 |
| District of Columbia | $161K | +8% | 130 |
| Virginia | $154K | +3% | N/A |
| Illinois | $152K | +2% | 780 |
| Michigan | $152K | +2% | 580 |
| Rhode Island | $149K | +0% | 50 |
| Ohio | $142K | -5% | 460 |
| Maryland | $140K | -6% | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $139K | -7% | 770 |
| New Hampshire | $137K | -8% | 100 |
| Texas | $137K | -8% | 2,230 |
| North Carolina | $135K | -9% | 880 |
| Tennessee | $133K | -11% | 670 |
| Utah | $133K | -11% | 200 |
| Arizona | $130K | -13% | 510 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 50 |
| Florida | $128K | -14% | 1,670 |
| Wisconsin | $128K | -14% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $124K | -17% | 40 |
| Alaska | $122K | -18% | 30 |
| Nebraska | $122K | -18% | 140 |
| Alabama | $118K | -21% | 90 |
| Iowa | $118K | -21% | 120 |
| Indiana | $118K | -21% | 170 |
| Nevada | $115K | -23% | 180 |
| Kentucky | $114K | -23% | 110 |
| Kansas | $114K | -24% | 70 |
| Hawaii | $110K | -26% | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $108K | -28% | 180 |
| Missouri | $106K | -29% | 250 |
| Arkansas | $101K | -32% | 140 |
| Louisiana | $100K | -33% | 220 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -33% | 330 |
| Idaho | $90K | -40% | 100 |
| Mississippi | $89K | -40% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track compensation and benefits managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York-Newark-Jersey City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a compensation and benefits manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Yes — at the median salary of $180K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,910/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for compensation and benefits managers in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new compensation and benefits managers typically earn — is $121K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,246/month. At HUD’s $2,910/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is compensation and benefits manager a high-paying job in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $180K here vs. $149K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 13% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does New York-Newark-Jersey City compare to the national average for compensation and benefits managers?
New York-Newark-Jersey City pays $180K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 112.56), the purchasing-power equivalent is $160K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do compensation and benefits managers make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median is $179,730 a year, that works out to about $86 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $120,760, and experienced compensation and benefits managers can clear $289,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $180K enough to live in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,341/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,910/month, which eats 28.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a compensation and benefits managers salary go in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median compensation and benefits managers salary is worth about $159,675 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do compensation and benefits managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.